Introduction: Cost-utility analysis is critical to the efficient allocation of health care resources. The current study examines the cost-effectiveness of surgical treatment of adult spinal deformity (ASD) with extended follow-up on observed costs, payments, and QALYs following primary surgery, including any related readmissions.
Methods: Single-center, retrospective analysis of consecutive patients undergoing primary surgery for ASD. Payments (expressed in 2010 dollars) to the hospital were collected from administrative data, with QALYs calculated from the SF-6D. Payments and QALYs were discounted at 3.5% per year. The study analyzed the average cost-effectiveness ratio (ACER) and a range of incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) based on improvement in QALYs from baseline and alternative assumptions of the reduction in HRQOL without surgical intervention. Results were projected through 10-year follow-up, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using nonparametric bootstrap methods.
Results: Three-year follow-up was available for 239 of 278 eligible patients (86%), which were predominantly female (n=203, 85%) with average age of 49 (range 18 to 82). Total per-patient payments averaged $211,529, including any readmissions over the follow-up period. Discounted QALYs averaged 1.9 over 3-year follow-up. Projecting through 10-year follow-up, the ACER ($/QALY) was $37,973. ICERs ranged from $58,027 based on an assumed 20% reduction in quality-of-life per year without surgery to $357,950 assuming no reduction in quality-of-life without surgery.
Conclusions: This study considers the cost-effectiveness of surgical treatment for ASD with a range of assumptions regarding the reduction in HRQOL without surgery. The results illustrate the potential for ASD surgery to be highly cost-effective provided accurate identification of patients likely to deteriorate in HRQOL without surgery. Future research should pursue direct measurement of the incremental improvement in QALYs attributed to surgery as well as outpatient resource utilization and indirect costs/benefits resulting from changes in absenteeism or productivity at work.
Patient Care: Improve our understanding of the economics of providing care for spine patients.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to: (1) Understand the concept of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs); (2) Appreciate the potential for adult spinal deformity surgery to be cost-effective, especially among patients likely to deteriorate in health-related quality of life without surgery; (3) Appreciate the importance of future research on the cost-effectiveness of surgery for adult spinal deformity.


Proceedings of The 9th international conference on Management , Economics and Humanities
Year: 2019
DOI:
Leadership During Economic Crisis Following The Employees’ Needs
George Xanthakis
ABSTRACT:
The financial crisis has discredited the leadership and management practices of firms,triggering a wave of thinking and experimentation that caused changes in aspirations and practice in organizational leadership and management in every sector. Crisis highlights the rapid changes in board practices and articulates some clear direction for change in the structure for management. This situation crisis seems to be a powerful catalyst for change in both the theory and practice of HR management.The current research initially explores the latest literature review about the crisis, crisis leadership and the motivation and highlights its connection with the leadership. Then using a qualitative approach investigates and analyzes the working conditions during the crisis, highlights the employee’s needs, the potential motivation factors and draws the profile of the new effective leader based on employee’s approach. The current paper intends to establish the role and the profile of the leader during the economic crisis conducting a research through the architect Engineers in Greece.
Keywords: leadership style, motivation, Greece, HR management.


Feb 12
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To lose weight you need to consume fewer calories than you expend. However, if you don’t maintain good levels of macro and micro nutrients, you may find you are never satisfied after eating, or still lack energy, making you reach for products such as sugary drinks, biscuits or other unhealthy snacks. These foods cancause an energy spike (rise in blood sugar) followed by an energy crash (fall in blood sugar), which leads to
further fatigue and hunger. Skipping meals, especially breakfast may seem like a good way to cut calories, but it can leave you feeling tired and hungry long before your next meal.
Breakfast can be a challenging meal when you using gluten free foods, to lose weight. Herbalife Free From Shake is a delicious Herbalife smoothie shake that can be used anytime as a meal replacement for weight loss, including breakfast. Each shake is calorie-controlled, providing less than 230 calories, health-protecting antioxidants, fibre, pomegranate and blueberry and Pisane®, a vegetable protein sourced from pea.


What is Structured Water?
Structured Water also sometimes referred to as hexagonal water corresponds to water with a structure that has been altered to form a hexagonal cluster. This cluster of water molecules is said to share similarities with water that has not been polluted or contaminated by human processes.
It is believed that regular water can be turned into structured water by one of the following methods:
What are the health benefits of structured water?
ructured water is believed to bring various health benefits like:
Do Somarka products produce structured water?
Somarka products convert the water to its natural harmonic and coherent state. This is beyond the commonly understood definition of structured-water. Furthermore, water treated with Somarka stays stable in its coherent state despite all external influences on it. To learn more about Somarka products, please visit our products page
here.


Science has consistently shown that chronic, low-grade inflammation can turn into a silent killer that contributes to cardiovascular disease.
It does so by contributing to the build-up of plaque, known as atherosclerosis.
What’s more, inflammation is associated with a higher risk of plaque rupturing and triggering cardiac events.
In light of these findings, people with chronic asthmatic attacks are advised to eat healthy food, be physically active, avoid cigarette smoking, and lose weight if needed.


Hedge Funds
Hedge funds invest in securities or other investments with the goal of generating outsized positive returns.
Due to their regulatory structure, hedge funds generally have greater ability to pursue investments and strategies that other vehicles cannot pursue or engage in. This can increase both returns and the risk of loss.
Some hedge funds invest in various sectors of the digital asset ecosystem (including tokens and other projects) as well as companies developing or using blockchain technology.
Hedge funds are typically limited to institutional and accredited investors. Account minimums and fees are typically higher than those of other investments.


Improvements in technology, patient selection, and patient management have led to a wider clinical application of mechanical circulatory support. Critically ill patients often develop multiorgan ischemia and are prone to multiple complications. Despite these advances, infection is a common and sometimes lethal complication of support with ventricular assist devices. This article provides guidelines for the prevention and management of infection in patients who require such support.


Companies that expect to have taxable income for the year 2021 must pay the
second installment of the temporary tax. The temporary tax is paid only using the JCCSMART website.
The tax is payable in two equal installments –
1st was due 31 July 2021 and the 2nd by 31 December of 2021. The payments are made until 31 August 2021 and 31 January 2022 respectively. Late filing of the return and payment of tax will attract interest and penalties.
The aim of payment of provisional tax is to avoid the 10% “additional tax”. It is calculated as 12.5% on the taxable income. To achieve this, however, your estimated taxable income must be at least 75% of the final taxable income as it will be determined by audited financial statements.
We remain at your disposal for any further information you may need.


Maspin, one of the serine protease inhibitors, has been shown to inhibit tumor progression and metastasis. We aimed to investigate maspin, p53 and VEGF expression in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma (AC) and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). The study included 28 SCC, 18 AC, 17 SCLC biopsy samples. We used the streptavidin biotin immunoperoxidase method to test for maspin, p53 and VEGF antibodies. Medical records of these patients were reviewed from archival files. Cytoplasmic maspin expression was detected in 89.3%, 77.8%, 52.9% of SCC, AC and SCLC, respectively. The rate was significantly higher in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and SCC than SCLC (p=0.013,p= 0.021, respectively). The mean percentages of maspin expression were significantly higher in NSCLC, SCC and AC than in SCLC (p=0.000 I, p=0.000 I, p=0.038, respectively). In ACs, maspin and p53 expressions were correlated, although this was not statistically significant (p=0.053, r= 0.464), and maspin positive cases had a significantly higher T status compared to negative cases (p=0.036). In SCC, the stage of disease was positively correlated with p53 (p= 0.007, r=0.536) and negatively correlated with VEGF expression (p=0.013, r=-0.498). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that stage of disease was a significant independent prognostic parameter in NSCLC (95% confidence interval: 1.067-3.969; p=0.031). Although maspin expression is higher in SCC and AC, and is related with higher T status in AC, our data did not indicate its prognostic significance. Larger scale studies are needed to reveal the exact role of maspin in lung cancer pathogenesis.


MOROCCO – Bank of Africa – BMCE Group (BOA) has secured €13 million (US$12.95m) financial package from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the European Union (EU), to support Morocco’s green transition.
Bank of Africa and its leasing subsidiary, Maghrebail, will extend the financing – of which €9.75 million (US$9.71m) will be provided by the EBRD and €3.25 million (US$3.24m) by the GCF – as sub-loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other firms to support their investments in climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies.
These funds are an extension of an existing loan provided under the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF), signed by the EBRD and Bank of Africa in September 2021, to meet a sustained demand for green finance.
A project consultant will also continue to provide capacity-building and awareness-raising sessions about climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies, as well as the optimal technology choices for sub-borrowers, reflecting the latest market developments.
The EU will provide a €1.43 million (US$1.42m) grant, corresponding to a 10 per cent average incentive for Moroccan businesses, to boost investments in climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies.
To enhance equal opportunities and address gender gaps, the facility aims to promote women’s access to climate finance, as well as to train additional BOA branch staff in gender-responsive green finance. BOA is the third-largest bank in Morocco.
The group is listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange and is present in 32 countries, including sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. It is one of the EBRD’s key partners in green finance, with €113 million (US$112.58m) in green loans extended under the scope of their cooperation.


Title:Gaze Bias in Preference Judgments by Younger and Older Adults
Journal(書誌情報）: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00285
論文URL:http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00285
Abstract:Individuals’ gaze behavior reflects the choice they will ultimately make. For example, people confronting a choice among multiple stimuli tend to look longer at stimuli that are subsequently chosen than at other stimuli. This tendency, called the gaze bias effect, is a key aspect of visual decision-making. Nevertheless, no study has examined the generality of the gaze bias effect in older adults. Here, we used a two-alternative forced-choice task (2AFC) to compare the gaze behavior reflective of different stages of decision processes demonstrated by younger and older adults. Participants who had viewed two faces were instructed to choose the one that they liked/disliked or the one that they judged to be more/less similar to their own face. Their eye movements were tracked while they chose. The results show that the gaze bias effect occurred during the remaining time in both age groups irrespective of the decision type. However, no gaze bias effect was observed for the preference judgment during the first dwell time. Our study demonstrated that the gaze bias during the remaining time occurred regardless of decision-making task and age. Further study using diverse participants, such as clinic patients or infants, may help to generalize the gaze bias effect and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the gaze bias.
著者Contact先の email: toshiki.saito[at]med.tohoku.ac.jp（[at]を@に変更してください。）


This Multi-Sectorial Location Assessment (MSLA) report, which presents findings from the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Round 22 assessments, aims to enhance understanding of the extent of internal displacements and the needs of affected populations in natural-disaster affected districts of Central Mozambique. The report covers the period from 28 February to 4 March 2022 and presents trends from 85 assessed sites hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs) across thirteen districts in the Central region (2 in Manica, 6 in Sofala, 5
in Zambezia). Working in close coordination with Mozambique’s National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD), a total of 129,327 internally displaced persons (an increase of 18% since the previous round 21, mainly due to increase in resettlement sites from 72 to 85) or 24,250 households living in sites assessed during this period. Reported figures, however, exclude displaced individuals living in host community settings.


Two points - and we're not talking basketball
November 2nd, 2010
November 2nd, 2010
When you're preparing to purchase a house or refinance your current mortgage, you'll hear the term "points". This is a term that describes charges that you'll pay to the lender. There are two different types of points - origination points and discount points.
Origination points are strictly an expense to obtain a loan to cover the lender's expenses. There is no benefit for the borrower, plus these charges are not tax deductible. Therefore, it is in your interest, as a borrower, to locate a lender - or a specific loan - where there is no charge for origination points.
On the other hand, discount points are paid to obtain a loan at a lower interest rate. Best described as pre-paid interest, it is equal to 1% of the total principal amount of the loan. If you're borrowing $150,000, each point will cost you $1500. Each point purchased will lower your interest rate. Either the buyer or the seller can pay the points, and it is not uncommon to share or split this fee. These dollars are tax deductible as home mortgage interest if itemized on Schedule A of your Form 1040.
So how do you decide whether to purchase points? How long you plan to remain in this house is a key issue, because you'll need to figure if the savings in interest will offset the up-front payment.
A professional mortgage lender who has your best interest in mind will help you with the calculations and guide you in the right direction.
We provide our clients with exceptional service and integrity which has become our hallmark.


Backdoors can allow unauthorized users to access an otherwise protected network or system. In cybersecurity, a backdoor is a weakness that’s used for this purpose. Hackers can bypass a network’s authentication processes by using a backdoor. While most...
Cyber attacks often begin with a backdoor. In cybersecurity, a backdoor is a method that allows a hacker to bypass a computer’s existing defenses. You may have antivirus software, a firewall, strong passwords and other defenses. With a backdoor, however, a...


Hung is a slang term used to describe a man with a large penis. The term hung most commonly refers to the penis’ length. It comes from the idea that when a long penis is flaccid, it appears to be “hanging” from the body.
It is often used in the phrase “well hung” or as part of a simile such as “hung like a horse.”
More About Hung
Some people suggest that for a man to be hung, his penis must be at least 7.5 inches when erect, with a width of at least two inches and a girth of 5.5 inches. However, most people agree that there are no specific measurements that a man must meet to be classified as hung. Instead, his penis should simply be larger than average.
Studies suggest that being hung matters much more for a heterosexual male than for a female partner. Research shows 85% of women are satisfied with the size of their partner’s penis, compared to just 55% of heterosexual men. Some women indicate a preference for hung men, but physically the vagina can accommodate large and small penises with the same relative degree of comfort. Before childbirth, a woman’s vagina is only around three inches long, and only an inch or so longer when she’s aroused.
For homosexual couples, a penis only needs to be 2.5 inches to hit the male G spot. The first centimeter or two inside the anus is also the most sensitive area. While many gay men show a preference for hung partners, many hung men report difficulties with topping due to their size. Despite this, studies show that men with large penises tend to be tops and men with smaller penises tend to bottom.


The SA PGM operations delivered another very solid operating performance for Sibanye Stillwater, which together with a higher 4E PGM basket price, resulted in another record financial result from the segment.
4E PGM production of 444,609oz for Q1 2021 was 6% higher than for the comparable period in 2020. AISC of R19,771/4Eoz (US$1,322/4Eoz) was 18% higher than for Q1 2020, primarily due to significantly higher cost of purchasing concentrate (PoC) from third parties. The processing of PoC contributed R350 million (US$23 million) at a margin of 22% to the Marikana adjusted EBITDA.
Adjusting for these higher PoC costs, AISC of the underlying operations are R17,738/4Eoz (US$1,186/4Eoz). Higher royalty taxes added R1,151/4Eoz (US$77/4Eoz) to AISC compared with Q1 2020, due to the higher PGM prices.
The average 4E PGM basket price of R52,722/4Eoz (US$3,524/4Eoz) for Q1 2021 was 59% higher than for Q1 2020, primarily due to due to a significant increase in the rhodium price (up 127% year-on-year) and the platinum price (up 28% year-on-year).
As a result of higher production and the significant increase in the 4E PGM basket price, adjusted EBITDA increased by 90% to R15,280 million (US$1,021 million) from R8,043 million (US$523 million) for Q1 2020, which was a record at the time. The adjusted EBITDA margin for Q1 2021 increased to 66% from 51% for the comparable period in 2020.
4E PGM production from the Rustenburg operation was 2% higher than for Q1 2020 at 156,956 4Eoz, with an increase in production from surface sources, offsetting marginally lower underground production. AISC from the Rustenburg operations increased by 4% to R19,002/4Eoz (US$1,270/4Eoz), year-on-year, despite the impact of higher royalties and taxes (due to the significantly improved margins) and above inflation electricity price increases, with an improvement in plant recoveries an offsetting factor.
The Kroondal operation continued to perform steadily, with 4E PGM production of 53,046 4Eoz for Q1 2021, 1% lower than comparable period in 2020. Despite marginally lower production and inflation increases, AISC of R12,137/4Eoz (US$811/4Eoz), was 4% lower than for the comparable period in 2020.
4E PGM production from the Marikana operation of 193,995 4Eoz for Q1 2021, was 13% higher than for the comparable period in 2020. Production from underground was 7% higher and production from surface sources and third party processing 66% higher.
The increase in surface production is primarily due to an increase in processing of third party concentrate, with 4E PGM production from PoC increasing by 140% year-on-year to 19,125 4Eoz for Q1 2021.
AISC of R23,000/4Eoz (US$1,537/4Eoz) reflect the additional cost of purchasing this concentrate from third parties at higher prevailing PGM prices. AISC from Marikana excluding third party PoC costs were R18,755/4Eoz (US$1,254/4Eoz) for Q1 2021.
The Mimosa operation continued to perform steadily, with attributable 4E PGM production of 29,878 4Eoz, 4% higher than for Q1 2020, and AISC of R13,401/4Eoz (US$896/4Eoz), 6% higher than the comparable period in 2020.
Chrome sales for Q1 2021 of approximately 370,000 tonnes were significantly lower than for Q1 2020 (approximately 507,0000 tonnes) due to a slow start up of operations and logistical issues in March which resulted in no chrome sales from the Rustenburg operation.
Chrome revenue was R347 million (US$23 million) for Q1 2021, 7% higher than the Q1 2020 chrome revenue of R324 million (US$21 million), due to an increase in the chrome price from $128/tonne for Q1 2020 to $162/tonne for Q1 2021.


Equine BlueLite Pellets 15lb Style #: 17897154 Instant results when your horse needs it most Provides the essential nutrients lost during heavy workout Balanced electrolyte formula Easily digestible, non-abrasive Contains essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals Helps maintain optimum digestive pH to support energy, electrolyte, and vitamin utilization Supports muscle recovery Also available in 5lb 15lb (60 servings) 17897154
Proper hydration is essential for a horse to maintain normal fluid-electrolyte balance essential for health and performance. Unlike traditional, salt-based hydration products, Equine BlueLite contains a combination of electrolytes with sodium chloride needed for electrolyte balance, probiotics to support beneficial gut health, energy metabolites for energy uptake, and other vitamins and minerals to help achieve balanced health.


Our approach emphasizes continuous learning. The fifth workstream focuses on applied research, which will be used to refine proposed activities and evaluate outcomes and impact. Knowledge management is a cross-cutting theme in the entire program.
Many activities will be supported through innovative digital platforms that will share information, evidence and research findings; improve rehabilitation service delivery; and develop the health workforce. These platforms comprise telerehabilitation, the eLearning portal, knowledge hub, communities of practice, mentoring and a single ‘store’ for resources. We aim to increase diversity, equity and inclusion by involving contributors from diverse settings in developing the portals.


January 30, 2019Research Gradient boosting
Gradient boosting iteratively combines weak learners (usually decision trees) to create a stronger model. It achieves state-of-the-art results on tabular data with heterogeneous features.
Posts Publications ICML, 2021
This paper introduces Stochastic Gradient Langevin Boosting (SGLB) - a powerful and efficient machine learning framework that may deal with a wide range of loss functions and has provable generalization guarantees. The method is based on a special form of the Langevin diffusion equation specifically designed for gradient boosting. This allows us to theoretically guarantee the global convergence even for multimodal loss functions, while standard gradient boosting algorithms can guarantee only local optimum. We also empirically show that SGLB outperforms classic gradient boosting when applied to classification tasks with 0-1 loss function, which is known to be multimodal.
ICLR, 2021
Graph neural networks (GNNs) are powerful models that have been successful in various graph representation learning tasks. Whereas gradient boosted decision trees (GBDT) often outperform other machine learning methods when faced with heterogeneous tabular data. But what approach should be used for graphs with tabular node features? Previous GNN models have mostly focused on networks with homogeneous sparse features and, as we show, are suboptimal in the heterogeneous setting. In this work, we propose a novel architecture that trains GBDT and GNN jointly to get the best of both worlds: the GBDT model deals with heterogeneous features, while GNN accounts for the graph structure. Our model benefits from end-to-end optimization by allowing new trees to fit the gradient updates of GNN. With an extensive experimental comparison to the leading GBDT and GNN models, we demonstrate a significant increase in performance on a variety of graphs with tabular features.
ICLR, 2021
For many practical, high-risk applications, it is essential to quantify uncertainty in a model's predictions to avoid costly mistakes. While predictive uncertainty is widely studied for neural networks, the topic seems to be under-explored for models based on gradient boosting. However, gradient boosting often achieves state-of-the-art results on tabular data. This work examines a probabilistic ensemble-based framework for deriving uncertainty estimates in the predictions of gradient boosting classification and regression models. We conducted experiments on a range of synthetic and real datasets and investigated the applicability of ensemble approaches to gradient boosting models that are themselves ensembles of decision trees. Our analysis shows that ensembles of gradient boosting models successfully detect anomalous inputs while having limited ability to improve the predicted total uncertainty. Importantly, we also propose a concept of a virtual ensemble to get the benefits of an ensemble via only one gradient boosting model, which significantly reduces complexity.


Abstract
The surface of Europa has been hypothesized to include an ice regolith layer from hundreds of meters to kilometers in thickness. However, contrary to previous claims, it does not present a significant obstacle to searching for Europa's ocean with radar sounding. This note corrects prior volume scattering loss analyses and expands them to includes observational and thermo-mechanical constraints on pore size and regolith depth. This provides a more physically realistic range of potential ice-regolith volume-scattering losses for radar sounding observations of Europa's ice shell in the HF and VHF frequency bands. We conclude that, for the range of physical processes and material properties observed or hypothesized for Europa, volume scattering losses are not likely to pose a major obstacle to radar penetration.


Article
The Five Laws of OER: Observations from RanganathanJournal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication (2019)
Abstract
Siyali Ramamrita Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science (1931) has long served as a philosophy for the practice of librarianship. The original five laws remain relevant almost ninety years after they were originally proposed (Ranganathan, 1931). As new modes of information and access, as well as resources and technology, have come into existence, these laws have remained flexible and open to adaptation. However, extant library literature has not yet situated Ranganathan’s Laws within the context of open educational resources (OER). As freely accessible teaching and learning resources, OER reflect the core values of Ranganathan’s Laws; further, viewing OER through Ranganathan’s lens offers new opportunities for librarians to situate their OER work within one of the discipline’s most foundational philosophies. The following sections introduce Ranganathan’s Five Laws and their recent adaptations and provide a new interpretation of these laws within the context of OER. The implications for situating OER within Ranganathan’s Five Laws are also shared.
Keywords
open educational resources (OER), Ranganathan, academic libraries, college students, textbooks
Publication DateSummer 2019
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.7710/2162-3309.2299
Citation InformationAnderson, T., Doney, J., Hendrix, B., Martinez, J., Stoddart, R. and Wright, M., 2019. The Five Laws of OER: Observations from Ranganathan. Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication, 7(1). DOI: http://doi.org/10.7710/2162-3309.2299


Belly dancing traces back to ancient Egypt, where they were used as part of religious ceremonies. Historians posit that Napoleons soldiers, who were exposed to belly dancing while in Egypt, brought the idea back with them to the nightclubs of France. It seems, however, that the issue goes well beyond entertainment, into the realm of health.
A recent Clalit Health Services study under the direction of Dr. Clara Friedman at the Lichtenstein clinic in Kfar Saba, examined the effect of belly dancing on womens health. The study included 129 participants, whose average age was 49, from belly dancing workshops in central Israel.
The final figures, published in an Israeli family medicine journal, revealed that belly dancing contributed to fewer visits to family doctors. Before they began attending the workshops, 53.6% of women visited a family doctor at least once every three months. However, after the workshops, the rate went down to 7.3%. Due to the workshops, most of the participants (92.7%) decreased their visits to once every half year.
At the end of the year-long workshop, where the women belly danced for two hours a week, their general health assessment rose by an average of 5.54 points to a total 9.09 points, on a scale of 1-10.
Furthermore, the womens average body mass index (BMI) went down from 25.34 units, and approximately 70% of them described a decrease in their weight. According to the researchers, belly dancing is a safe and pleasant form of physical exercise that has a positive effect on both physical and mental health.


Brochures | April 2022
Offshore Wind Worldwide - Regulatory framework in selected countries
Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the global offshore wind industry has had a remarkable year. In 2021, global offshore wind capacity grew by almost 50% compared to 2020.
Especially China accelerated the expansion and contributed significantly to the increase with newly installed capacity of 12.7 GW in 2021. But also other countries are showing their will to push ahead with expansion. In Europe, especially the UK, the Netherlands and Denmark have significantly expanded their offshore wind capacities in 2021.
"On the one hand, many countries see the economic potential and want to participate in the economic upswing. At the same time they recognize that offshore wind plays a crucial role in the fight against the climate crisis. Thus, on a political level, it can be seen that many countries are striving to create legal frameworks or amend their existing regulations to facilitate expansion.", Dr Christian Knütel, Partner at Hogan Lovells in Hamburg, comments on the increasing importance of offshore wind.
Together with Prof. Dr. Martin Skiba and Gunnar Herzig from the World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO), Dr. Christian Knütel, also WFO's general counsel, presents the 2022 edition of the handbook "Offshore Wind Worldwide – Regulatory Framework in Selected Countries", a comprehensive review of the public and regulatory framework conditions of leading worldwide offshore wind power markets. The 2022 edition features a foreword by Bruno G. Geschier, Chairman of inter alia WFO’s Floating Offshore Wind Committee and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of BW Ideol.
Continuing the trail set by the previous edition, this updated handbook presents new key laws and relevant legislative amendments in countries such as Vietnam, Germany, Poland, Denmark and the Republic of Korea and provides a valuable glimpse into the changes of China’s regulatory framework for offshore wind. This handbook edition likewise presents notable regulatory developments in and the competitiveness of the offshore wind industry in India, Taiwan, Japan, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, and describes the current regulatory situation in Belgium and in the Netherlands.
Gunnar Herzig, Managing Director of the WFO, remarks that, "More and more countries around the world have furthermore implemented their first basic regulatory frameworks for offshore wind."
This observation is echoed by Bruno G. Geschier, who adds that, "[...] from maturing markets expecting ever more offshore wind to emerging markets wanting new offshore wind, everyone everywhere flocks offshore, bringing tremendous value creation opportunities across the supply chain in tow."
As the existing offshore wind energy markets further strengthen their positions in the industry and the global demands for CO2-friendly energy alternatives increase, the handbook presented here provides an informative reference of the continuously developing legal framework conditions in the international offshore wind market.
The handbook is the result of an international collaboration between lawyers from Hogan Lovells and lawyers from "best friend" law firms on three continents. Equipped with excellent industry knowledge, this handbook provides first-hand insights into national legal systems. It is updated annually, making it a companion for years to come and a first-class reference for a global overview of the legal conditions of the offshore industry.
A free copy of the handbook is available here:
Download PDF Back To Listing


What Does "Sole Custody With the Final Say" Mean?
By Victoria McGrath
E. Dygas/Photodisc/Getty Images
Family law judges issue court orders over child custody of minor children during legal proceedings, including legal separation and divorce. A court order for "sole custody with the final say," issued to one parent or legal guardian, means that only that one parent or guardian maintains legal custody over the child. In other words, one parent possesses final decision making authority on issues involving the minor child. In some cases, sole custody with the final say may refer only to the legal custody of the child and not to physical custody. In this case, the other parent may still maintain shared physical custody or at least visitation rights.
Sole Custody and Shared Custody
A court often orders sole custody to one parent or shared custody to both parents. Sole custody may refer to legal custody, physical custody or both. Legal custody allows a parent to make all legal decisions for the child. Major legal decisions may involve financial, medical, educational and religious matters. Physical custody refers to where the child lives. It allows a parent to physically take care of the child, arrange child care, plan educational activities, change residences and travel abroad. The court may order sole legal custody with shared physical custody, joint legal custody with sole physical custody or make other custody arrangements.
Legal Custody and Physical Custody
If a court orders sole custody and final say without distinguishing legal or physical custody, the court order may refer to both legal and physical custody. The statement must be viewed within the context of the entire court document. If the court order does not outline any type of shared physical or joint legal custody, the court may not intend to award any form of custody to the other parent. The court order may include reasons why sole custody with the final say has been awarded to one parent or why custody has been denied to the other parent.
Sole Custody and Final Say
The parent with sole custody and the final say may potentially make both legal and physical decisions regarding the minor child's health and welfare without consulting the other parent. A court order for sole custody with the final say can be temporary or permanent. If an absent or abusive parent abandons all parental responsibilities, that parent could lose all custodial rights, including legal and physical custody permanently. However, if the negligent parent completes court-ordered anger management classes, enters a treatment plan or catches up on child support payments, the temporary court order could change based on those conditions. Generally, child custody orders may be appealed or amended within a legal time limit, unless the court order is final. Court rules vary state to state.
Non-Custodial Parent's Rights
A parent that loses all custodial rights may be referred to as a non-custodial parent. A non-custodial parent does not possess primary custody of the minor child. However, the non-custodial parent still maintains parental rights, in most cases. Even without physical and legal custody, a parent generally has a right to reasonable visitation and frequent contact with the child. Although the parent with sole custody and the final say has authority to make all final decisions regarding the child, she may still need to keep in contact with the non-custodial parent.
References
Writer Bio
Based in Los Angeles, Victoria McGrath has been writing law-related articles since 2004. She specializes in intellectual property, copyright and trademark law. She earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona, College of Law. McGrath pursued both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts at University of California, Los Angeles, in film and television production. Her work has been published in the Daily Bruin and La Gente Newsmagazine.


This paper investigates the role of risk aversion in the decision on the uptake of a supplementary health insurance and will consequently look at the effects of having such an insurance on healthcare utilisation. The relationship between these aforementioned variables will be tested using OLS regressions and a multivariate probit model. This study provides evidence that risk aversion has a positive effect on the probability of opting for a supplementary health insurance. Additionally, healthcare utilisation is found to be higher due to the uptake of health insurance. This research did not manage to show whether this relationship is caused by moral hazard or adverse selection.


A major challenge for the therapeutic use of many peptides and proteins is their short circulatory half-life. Albumin has an extended serum half-life of three weeks due to its size and FcRn-mediated recycling that prevents intracellular degradation, properties shared with IgG antibodies. Engineering the strictly pH dependent IgG-FcRn interaction is known to extend IgG half-life. However, this principle has not been extensively explored for albumin. We have engineered human albumin by introducing single point mutations in the C-terminal end that generated a panel of variants with greatly improved affinities for FcRn. One variant (K573P) with 11-fold improved affinity showed extended serum half-life in normal mice, mice transgenic for human FcRn and cynomolgus monkeys. Importantly, favorable binding to FcRn was maintained when a single-chain fragment variable antibody was genetically fused to either the N- or C-terminal end. The engineered albumin variants may be attractive for improving the serum half-life of biopharmaceuticals.
March 20th, 2014 by Andersen, J. T., Dalhus, B., Viuff, D., Thue Ravn, B., Gunnarsen, K. S., Plumridge, A., Bunting, K., Antunes, F., Williamson, R., Athwal, S., Allan, E., Evans, L., Bȷoras, M., Kȷarulff, S., Sleep, D., Sandlie, I., Cameron, J.


Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: Let’s clear up the lexicon this year
While watching sports coverage, it can be overwhelming when analysts on television use terminology that the casual viewer may not understand. The need to score more points and play strong defense? No problem. How a player’s salary cap hit is going to affect free agency? Not so clear.
Understandably, we may engage in industry-specific lexicon with peers while potential advocates are left scratching their heads. In our continued observation of March’s Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month throughout the year, Dirkse welcomes all who may wish to learn more about this exceptional population.
The CDC states, “Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.”
Estimates show that roughly six million Americans experience a developmental disability. Specific examples include Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or hearing and vision loss. Symptoms associated with these disabilities can lead to a lack of integration into society that too often becomes tragically permanent.
As a community provider for over twenty-three years, Dirkse supports people with disabilities to find permanent employment that suits their goals. We have observed how this underrepresented population, with the proper supports, can flourish. When the employment puzzle piece is in place, we have seen how the rest of the puzzle begins to present itself.
If you know someone impacted by a disability who is feeling ready to explore vocational options or learn more about available services, please contact Dirkse Counseling & Consulting at (503)-265-9256.


Tourism Innovation Summit encourages youth to apply • By Confidente reporter
WITH Namibia being the official host of the 4th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit & Challenge taking place in Windhoek on 27-29 July 2022, the youth is encouraged to register and present their projects to the global marketplace.
The 4th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge is the one and only Pan-African youth and start-up in tourism summit on the continent.
According to a statement this week, the summit will host 500 physical and over 1000 virtual attendees under the theme “Developing Youth and Innovative Entrepreneurship Solutions for Inclusive Tourism Recovery in Africa.”
The summit is open to interested youth, start-ups and professionals in the tourism, travel, hospitality, aviation,
This is an exclusive platform being provided to the innovative African youth in the travel and tourism looking for funding, partnership and mentorship opportunities to present their project to the global marketplace to find the required support for their programmes. Academia, technology sectors and all related industries to connect, engage, learn, innovate and grow.
Interested individuals and professionals should register to attend the conference on the summit’s website on www.youthtourismsummit.com. The registration is free. We encourage interested parties to register at their earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
According to several media reports, the summit aims to support the youth across the continent to take responsibility for tourism revival through the practical implementation of innovative ideas and projects.
It was also anticipated that this will result in the introduction of business opportunities for youth, small enterprises, start-ups and all stakeholders for the revival of the African Tourism sector.
Meanwhile, current entries for the Innovation Challenge and Summit registration reflect that most young people across Africa are excited to be part of this 4th edition of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge and Summit.
The summit also focuses on reducing the unemployment rate in Namibia.
Research shows that in 2020, the estimated youth unemployment rate in Namibia was at 41.17 percent as opposed to 39.53% in 2019 showing that the unemployment rate has drastically increased due to the financial and economic crisis while the African Union has estimated that Africa has lost nearly US$55 billion in tourism revenue due to the Covid-19 pandemic.


Abstract:
Reduced exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) has been the most significant source of health benefits from U.S. environmental regulation. These benefits are typically evaluated using integrated assessment models that ignore the potential for interactions between overlapping pollution regulations. In localities where threshold-based air quality standards bind, reductions in regional emissions could induce local regulators to permit offsetting increases in local emissions. We study the empirical relationship between regional emissions and local PM2.5 levels before and after stringent EPA regulations targeting power plants took effect. To isolate the effects of power plant emissions reductions, we combine high-resolution pollution transport modeling with an econometric model of local air pollution exposure. Consistent with the earlier literature, we find that reductions in power plant emissions have delivered significant improvements in local air quality. We also find that these effects are attenuated in localities that are constrained by air quality standards. This result is consistent with regulators relaxing local abatement efforts in response to a decline in regional emissions. Work-in-progress explores the health and equity implications of this local trade-off.


Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority Crisis Line provides 24/7, free and confidential support over phone. We exist to...
Regardless of whether you're a woman, man or child in Manitoba, Canada, if someone has used coercion, power or force to make you engage in unwanted sexual activity, you were a victim of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is a form of sexual violence, which is any sexual activity without consent. Other forms of sexual violence are sexual assault, such as rape and unwanted touching, and sexual harassment, which is unwelcome sexual behavior.
If you are a victim of sexual violence, talking about your experience with people who understand can help you recover. Seek free help from 10 sexual abuse, assault and harassment hotlines in Manitoba, Canada if you face:
As a victim of sexual violence you could be feeling furious, desperate, revengeful, hopeless, and empty, all at the same time. This is a perfectly normal response to such a traumatizing event.
Coping with the trauma of sexual violence can be even harder if you are trying to do it on your own. There is no right or wrong way to recover from the abuse. However, having someone to talk to in Manitoba, Canada can make the process easier.
If you feel like you might need support with your experience of sexual violence, try reaching out to a hotline in Manitoba, Canada. It's free and confidential.


The easy availability of Home Loans these days has increased home affordability among people. So, while planning to buy a dream house, an individual would want to get the maximum loan amount possible. However, first-time home buyers must do some research and prepare for the Housing Loan eligibility needs.
Loan eligibility is the primary reference point most lending institutions use to assess a loan application. They conduct a detailed analysis of an applicant’s eligibility based on elements like the loan term, credit rating, income, repayment capacity, financial obligations, etc. However, loan seekers can use a Home Loan eligibility calculator online to estimate their eligible loan amount and find ways to boost their eligibility quickly. Below are a few ways to enhance Home Loan eligibility and find the way to own a dream house without hassle.
1. Enhance the Credit Score
A high credit score indicates an individual’s seriousness for debt settlement, based on which lending institutions determine their creditworthiness. A credit score above 700 boosts Home Loan eligibility. However, achieving that requires timely repayments, a diverse credit profile, a low credit utilization ratio, minimal financial obligations, and a clean credit history.
When they receive a Home Loan application, lending institutions check the credit score to evaluate credibility. A credit score above 750 brings quicker loan approval at lower interest rates and other favourable terms.
2. Apply for a Joint Home Loan
Families with multiple earning members can consider applying for joint Home Loans to increase their loan eligibility. The best co-applicants would be the spouse or a parent. Apart from boosting eligibility, co-applying also divides the repayment burden and doubles the applicable tax benefits. Besides, co-borrowing with a high credit rating increases loan affordability, making repayment more manageable and faster for the borrowers.
3. Reduce Debt Obligations
An individual’s debt-to-income ratio is a critical factor lending institutions check to determine eligibility. Therefore, before applying for an online housing loan, try clearing all financial obligations, as it will positively impact Home Loan eligibility. Additionally, reducing the DTI ratio will boost the credit score, further enhancing loan eligibility. Most lending institutions expect a DTI ratio of 50% or less to approve loan applications. So, keeping it within that limit increases the chances of getting a bigger loan.
4. Declare a Higher Income
Declaring a higher income by including all additional income sources significantly increases Home Loan eligibility. While filling out the online housing loan application form, don’t forget to add all income sources besides regular salary, including rental income, part-time jobs or businesses, earnings from hobbies, etc. It boosts the applicant’s financial health and helps secure a bigger loan amount. Extra income also reduces the DTI ratio, underlining a higher repayment capability.
5. Opt for a Longer Loan Tenure
Many borrowers opt for a shorter loan term to pay off their loan sooner and remove the lien. However, it is not an astute move for an applicant’s eligibility. A shorter loan tenure increases the monthly EMI amount, causing the loan provider to think twice before taking the associated risk. Opting for a longer term reduces the EMI amount, assuring the lender of timely payments. Use a Home Loan eligibility calculator online to select a suitable loan term and apply accordingly.
Although a longer loan tenure increases the total interest outgo, the additional funds available are worth the extra cost. Even after choosing a longer term, the applicant may consider pre-paying the loan whenever possible. They will pay the applicable prepayment charges but save on the interest cost.
Using these tips will improve the chances of getting a bigger loan amount. Start with paying off the outstanding balances and improving your credit score to reduce risk and boost repayment capacity. Use a Home Loan eligibility calculator online to calculate eligibility based on the property’s cost, income, and FOIR, and know how much you are eligible to borrow.
Most lending institutions have in-house models and policies for home loans. Check different eligibility conditions, documentation requirements, interest rates, and other regulations. Compare them and opt for one that best suits your eligibility.


Dance festivals have been shown to be high-risk events for use of drugs such as ecstasy/MDMA and possible adverse effects associated with use. However, few studies have examined what makes festivals such risky environments. This research aimed to determine festival-specific risk factors for adverse outcomes related to drug use.
Methods
In-depth interviews were conducted with 35 key informants in North America who deemed themselves experts in new psychoactive substances, and identified as drug checkers, sellers, or experienced users. Interviews were coded in an inductive manner, and we conducted thematic analysis to identify relevant themes.
Results
We identified four main themes focusing on festival attendance as a risk factor for risky drug use and related outcomes: attendees inexperienced with electronic dance music parties and party drugs, risky drug purchasing, risky drug use practices, and festival-specific environmental risk factors. Festivals attract a wide array of people not experienced with party drugs, yet drugs like ecstasy are commonly sought by such individuals inside festivals. Relying on strangers inside to purchase drugs is a risk factor for purchasing adulterated product. Fear of security/police at festivals leads to risky drug-taking such as ingesting one’s full batch of drugs at the entrance. These risks are compounded by environmental factors including crowding, hot temperature, and lack of water (which lead to dehydration), long/consecutive event days (which can lead to exhaustion), and inadequate medical emergency response.
Conclusions
We determined modifiable risk factors which can both inform future research and future prevention and harm reduction efforts in this scene.
Read the open access article in full AT THIS LINK.


The Ninth Circuit affirmed a preliminary injunction enjoining enforcement of 4 provisions of Arizona’s immigration law, Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (“Act”), SB 1070.
The court found the Act to be preempted by federal immigration law, because the Arizona statute was an obstacle to the full purposes and objectives of Congress.
U.S. v. Arizona, 2011 WL 1346945 (9th Cir. Apr. 11, 2011). Paez (nominated by Clinton) wrote the court opinion. Noonan (nominated by Reagan) wrote a concurrence. Bea (nominated by Bush II) penned a vehement dissent, though he dissented only in regard to two of the four challenged provisions.
The court began by considering preemption of Section 2(B) of the law, which mandates verification of immigration status with the federal government for any person who is arrested. Later in the provision, the law states that a person is presumed not to be unlawfully present in the United States if the person provides a form of identification listed, such as a driver’s license. Arizona argued that law enforcement officials are required to check immigration status only if there is reasonable suspicion about immigration status. The court rejected that argument as contrary to the clear language of the statute.
The court set forth two preemption principles. First, the “purpose of Congress is the ultimate touchstone.” Second, the presumption against preemption applies when Congress legislates in a field traditionally occupied by states. Yet, since the identification of immigrants is not a matter typically left to states, no presumption against preemption was warranted.
The court found that, in the Immigration and Naturalization Act (“INA”), Congress intended for state efforts to identify immigrants to be closely supervised by the Attorney General. The court stated: “Not only must the Attorney General approve of each
individual state officer, he or she must delineate which functions each individual officer is permitted to perform.” The court held that 2(B) was preempted by these provisions of the INA requiring supervision by the Attorney General. In response to the dissent focusing on the INA requirement for states to “cooperate” with the federal government, the majority stated in a footnote: “given that the United States has had to sue the State of Arizona to stop it from enforcing S.B. 1070, it is quite clear that Arizona is not ‘cooperating’ with the federal government in any sense of the word. Arizona does not seek intergovernmental cooperation—it seeks to pursue its own policy of ‘attrition through enforcement.’” The court concluded that 2(B) is an obstacle to the full purposes and objectives of Congress, as expressed in the INA.
The court further stated that the Act in general “has had a deleterious effect on the United States’ foreign relations, which weighs in favor of preemption.” The court noted that numerous countries, such as Mexico and many others in South America, had publicly criticized the Arizona law. An Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security testified that the Arizona law had a deleterious effect on the federal government’s efforts to secure international cooperation to safeguard America’s borders.
Section 3 of the Act imposes fines and jail terms for failure to carry an alien registration document, unless a person has authorization to be in the US. The court again concluded that there is no presumption against preemption for such a state law. The INA has federal penalties for failure to carry registration documents, with no reference to state participation. Therefore, the court found, the Arizona law was contrary to congressional intent. The court further indicated that the INA provides a comprehensive statutory scheme for regulating registration which preempted the state law.
Section 5(C) of the law imposes criminal sanctions for an unauthorized alien applying for work, soliciting work in a public place, or working as an employee or independent contractor. The court noted that in a prior decision, the Ninth Circuit had held that the power to regulate the employment of unauthorized aliens is within traditional state police powers. The court therefore did apply the presumption against preemption in reviewing this provision.
The applicable federal law regarding employment of aliens is the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA). In that statute, Congress decided to place consequences on employers who hire undocumented immigrants but not on employees. Relying on a prior Ninth Circuit decision, the court held that the text and legislative history of the IRCA demonstrated that Congress had decided that aliens who obtained work should not be incarcerated or fined for working. The court concluded that it was “likely” that Congress intended to supersede state authority. The court stated that by “pulling the lever of criminalizing work,” the Arizona Act stands as an obstacle to the full purposes and objectives of Congress.
Section 6 of the Act permits arrest of an individual if the officer believes that the individual has committed an offense that makes the person removable from the United States. The court found that arresting immigrants for civil immigration violations is not a field traditionally occupied by states, and therefore the presumption against preemption did not apply. The court concluded that “Section 6 authorizes state and local officers to effectuate more intrusive arrests than Congress has permitted.” As a result, “Section 6 interferes with the carefully calibrated scheme of immigration enforcement that Congress has adopted, and it appears to be preempted.” The court noted that its decision was consistent with a Sixth Circuit opinion but contrary to a Tenth Circuit opinion. The Ninth Circuit panel found the Tenth Circuit’s analysis of legislative history to be unpersuasive. The Ninth Circuit concluded that Section 6 stands as an obstacle to the full purposes and objectives of Congress.
For all 4 provisions at issue, the court indicated that the “potential to lead to 50 different state immigration schemes piling on top of the federal scheme, weigh[s] in favor of the preemption” of the Arizona law.
After lengthy consideration of likelihood of success on the merits, the court summarily concluded that all the other factors for a preliminary injunction were met.
Justice Noonan joined the opinion but wrote a separate concurrence “to emphasize the intent of the [Arizona] statute and its incompatibility with federal foreign policy.”
Justice Bea wrote a visceral dissent that mocked the majority, even though he concurred with much of the majority’s reasoning in regard to Sections 3 and 5(C) as well as the majority’s conclusion that those 2 provisions were preempted. Nevertheless, Bea stated: “a foreign nation may not cause a state law to be preempted simply by complaining about the law’s effects on foreign relations generally. We do not grant other nations’ foreign ministries a ‘heckler’s veto.’”
Bea ridiculed the majority’s interpretation of the text of Section 2(B) with a footnote containing a lengthy quote about Humpty Dumpty from Lewis Carroll,
Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. The dissent asserted that there was no federal foreign relations goal that Section 2(B) conflicted with.
Regarding Section 6, the dissent argued that the majority had gone beyond the limited arguments of the federal government, interpreting the federal immigration law too broadly. The dissent contended that states had “inherent authority to enforce federal immigration law” and therefore Section 6 was not conflict preempted.


We are delighted to share our latest publication
‘A dozen markets and counting: The opportunity for Two Wheel e-Mobility in Sub Saharan Africa’ with you!
Persistent is very pleased to share some insights on which African markets to consider investing in when it comes to e-mobility.
As a climate venture builder, we believe that the move to a greener transportation sector will be vital to Africa’s sustainable development, particularly for its polluted urban centers where transportation often accounts for almost 50% of CO2 emissions.
In this publication, we share the results of a simple analysis to support our own e-mobility market selection journey.
We hope you enjoy the read. Kindly reach out for suggestions and feedback to joy@persistent.energy


Today, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) updated its policy regarding charging violations under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”). This is the first update to the DOJ’s policy since 2014, and it is effective immediately. The policy states that all federal prosecutors who wish to charge cases under the CFAA must follow the new policy and consult with the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section before bringing any charges. Importantly, the policy delineates what activities should not be criminal violations of the CFAA and emphasizes that DOJ’s “goals for CFAA enforcement are to promote privacy and cybersecurity by upholding the legal right of individuals, network owners, operators, and other persons to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information stored in their information systems.”
Good-Faith Security Research Should Not Trigger Criminal Charges Under The CFAA.
For the first time, the policy now expressly states that “the government should decline prosecution if available evidence shows the defendant’s conduct consisted of, and the defendant intended, good-faith security research.” As noted by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, “today’s announcement promotes cybersecurity by providing clarity for good-faith security researchers who root out vulnerabilities for the common good.” The policy defines “good-faith security research” as accessing a system “solely for purposes of good-faith testing, investigation, and/or correction of a security flaw or vulnerability, where such activity is carried out in a manner designed to avoid any harm to individuals or the public, and where the information derived from the activity is used primarily to promote the security or safety of the class of devices, machines, or online services to which the accessed computer belongs, or those who use such devices, machines, or online services.” However, “claiming to be conducting security research is not a free pass,” and DOJ re-affirms that any attempt at extortion is not good-faith research.
The Policy Clarifies (And Narrows) What It Means To “Exceed Authorized Access.”
Courts interpreting the CFAA have often expressed concern over hypothetical violations of the CFAA for “exceed[ing] authorized access.” In a nod to the Supreme Court’s decision in
United States v. Van Buren (2021), the new policy prohibits CFAA prosecutions based on a theory that the “defendant’s authorization to access a particular file, database, folder, or user account was conditioned by a contract, agreement, or policy,” such as a website’s terms and conditions. Yet, the new policy leaves open a “narrow exception” that would allow a CFAA prosecution based on a contractual limitation if the owner of the accessed computer had a “contract[], agreement[], or polic[y] that entirely prohibit[s] defendants from accessing particular files, databases, folders, or user accounts on a computer in all circumstances.” Such a prosecution would raise a question that the Supreme Court expressly reserved in Van Buren and would likely be hotly contested.


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Here are the three different ways you can go slipping down the runway, and how you can prevent each one.
Dynamic hydroplaning happens when water lifts your wheels off the runway. This usually happens when a wedge of water builds up in front of your tires and lifts them off the runway. When it happens, you're literally riding on water. And that's not good, because you don't have traction or braking.
Reverted rubber hydroplaning happens when your tires lock up, the rubber begins to melt, and trapped water under the tire turns into steam.
When it happens, you're riding on steam, and melting your tires in the process.
When oil or accumulated rubber combines with water on a runway, it can form an impenetrable layer of liquid your tires can't break through. This is especially problematic on smooth asphalt runways.
Use these anti-hydroplaning techniques the next time you're landing in the rain, and you'll handle any wet runway like a pro.
Colin is a Boldmethod co-founder and lifelong pilot. He's been a flight instructor at the University of North Dakota, an airline pilot on the CRJ-200, and has directed the development of numerous commercial and military training systems. You can reach him at colin@boldmethod.com.


Key Points Educate your patients on changes that occur during menopause, and don’t wait until they’re in the trenches to start the conversation. Many health improvements can be seen from 5%, 10%, and 15% weight loss. If weight loss proves challenging, focus on weight maintenance and/or combined use of weight loss medications.


Etienne Thoret, Thomas Andrillon, Damien Léger, Daniel Pressnitzer Abstract
Many scientific fields now use machine-learning tools to assist with complex classification tasks. In neuroscience, automatic classifiers may be useful to diagnose medical images, monitor electrophysiological signals, or decode perceptual and cognitive states from neural signals. Tools such as deep neural networks regularly outperform humans with such large and high-dimensional datasets.
However, such tools often remain black-boxes: they lack interpretability. A lack of interpretability has obvious ethical implications for clinical applications, but it also limits the usefulness of machine-learning tools to formulate new theoretical hypotheses. Here, we propose a simple and versatile method to help characterize and understand the information used by a classifier to perform its task. The method is inspired by the reverse correlation framework familiar to neuroscientists. Specifically, noisy versions of training samples or, when the training set is unavailable, custom-generated noisy samples are fed to the classifier. Variants of the method using uniform noise and noise focused on subspaces of the input representations, so-called “bubbles”, are presented. Reverse correlation techniques are then adapted to extract both the discriminative information used by the classifier and the canonical information for each class.
We provide illustrations of the method for the classification of written numbers by a convolutional deep neural network and for the classification of speech versus music by a support vector machine. The method itself is generic and can be applied to any kind of classifier and any kind of input data. Compared to other, more specialized approaches, we argue that the noise-probing method could provide a generic and intuitive interface between machine-learning tools and neuroscientists.


Around 300,000 people have left their homes in Anbar, while half a million have fled Ninewa, amidst fighting in the north and west of Iraq.
Many are seeking safety in the surrounding areas, while others have headed to the Kurdistan region – which is under significant pressure from the influx of refugees fleeing conflict-torn Syria. In the coming days and weeks, both the death toll and the number of displaced families are expected to rise.
This is Iraq’s worst humanitarian crisis since 2006. Islamic Relief has launched an Iraq appeal and is working to support families escaping the violence by providing food, water, and other essential items.


Filing a lawsuit against a sexually abusive priest can be difficult. There are many obstacles that can hinder you from getting the justice you deserve. One thing you need to know is that the claim must be substantiated, and you must provide proof beyond reasonable doubt that the priest abused you. Even with the long Orange County priest abuse list, you will find it hard to convince the law that a specific priest abused you sexually. If you want to understand more about substantiated claims against abusive priests, here are five questions to help you.
What are Substantiated Claims?
As mentioned earlier, a claim will only be considered true if there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. This is called a substantiated claim because it has ample evidence to support it. That means, for a claim to be substantiated, there must be existing evidence that proves that the supposed abuse occurred. Sexual abuse claims against priests are not based on assumptions. The victim must provide sufficient evidence to back up their claim. A substantiated claim is different from a credible claim. The latter means that the claim is not clearly false.
Can an Abusive Priest Be Re-Ordained into the Ministry?
If the priest is proven not guilty and there is not enough evidence to support the claim, they can be re-ordained into the ministry. However, if the evidence clearly shows that the priest was sexually abusive to a minor, they can never return to public ministry.
What is the Verge of Removing a Clergy Member from the Ministry?
Before a priest is completely removed from the ministry, investigations must be done. The clergy member will, however, remain pending until proven otherwise.
The archdiocese will use the credible claim to conduct investigations. During the investigation, the work is solely done by the civil authority and the archdiocese is expected not to interfere with these investigations.
Does the Archdiocese Disclose the Names of Priests Whose Claims are Substantiated?
Yes. The archdiocese is responsible for disclosing all the names of sexually abusive priests. However, the disclosure must follow after the claim is substantiated. The names must be published for the public regardless of the legal means used to substantiate the claim. The substantiated claim details will be published to the public, and parishes must be informed about where the man was posted and other important details.
Does the Church Support the Men on the Disclosure List Financially?
The financial support that a priest gets will depend on their situation. Generally, any priest, regardless of their circumstance should not be left destitute. Every person who has served as a priest is entitled to a pension and other benefits. So, the priest continues to get the benefits, but their expenses, like health care costs, are deducted from their trust.
To Wrap It Up!
The law, together with the Catholic Church supports the victims of sexual abuse from the priests. However, every reported incident must be substantiated. This means that the victim must provide sufficient evidence that proves the occurrence of the abusive incidence. Hopefully, these questions have helped you understand more about substantiated claims and what happens when a priest is proven guilty of sexual abuse.


Factor's that impact on women's decision-making around prenatal genomic tests: An international discrete choice survey. Buchanan J., Hill M., Vass CM., Hammond J., Riedijk S., Klapwijk JE., Harding E., Lou S., Vogel I., Hui L., Ingvoldstad-Malmgren C., Soller MJ., Ormond KE., Choolani M., Zheng Q., Chitty LS., Lewis C.
OBJECTIVE: We conducted a survey-based discrete-choice experiment (DCE) to understand the test features that drive women's preferences for prenatal genomic testing, and explore variation across countries. METHODS: Five test attributes were identified as being important for decision-making through a literature review, qualitative interviews and quantitative scoring exercise. Twelve scenarios were constructed in which respondents choose between two invasive tests or no test. Women from eight countries who delivered a baby in the previous 24 months completed a DCE presenting these scenarios. Choices were modelled using conditional logit regression analysis. RESULTS: Surveys from 1239 women (Australia: n=178; China: n=179; Denmark: n=88; Netherlands: n=177; Singapore: n=90; Sweden: n=178; UK: n=174; USA: n=175) were analysed. The key attribute affecting preferences was a test with the highest diagnostic yield (p<0.01). Women preferred tests with short turnaround times (p<0.01), and tests reporting variants of uncertain significance (VUS) (p<0.01) and secondary findings (SFs) (p<0.01). Several country-specific differences were identified, including time to get a result, who explains the result, and the return of VUS and SFs. CONCLUSION: Most women want maximum information from prenatal genomic tests, but our findings highlight country-based differences. Global consensus on how to return uncertain results is not necessarily realistic or desirable. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Challenges of Company Expansion
Whether a start-up or an established company, the growth process is always fraught with obstacles. As a company grows, it faces different challenges, as pain management specialist Jordan Sudberg explains below:
1) Economic challenges
When a company expands, additional funding will be needed, which may lead to problems if the business does not manage its finances effectively. With an expansion in mind, the company must hire new employees and increase expenses such as equipment, consumables, and other resources. Including the above spike in labor cost increases the budget of the company.
2) Miscommunication
As the number of people grows within a work group and team, there will be a rapid change in technology, tools, and procedures between them. The employees commonly don’t have enough expertise to manage all new knowledge presented to them by the company due to this lack of communication. It is hard to communicate this due to the fast advancement of technology and new tools.
3) Change in focus
As a company expands, new products are created and introduced to the public, this is not a problem for most companies, and it is an opportunity for them. However, there are times that management needs to focus on and emphasize certain products to gain profit from them. This shift creates a shift in the new product’s marketing plan and other strategies that affect different businesses or departments within the company.
4) Additional responsibilities
As the business grows, it must learn new strategies to adapt to the growth, meaning that those who are part of the organization must also learn and adapt. In doing this, many individuals may face more work than they can handle, necessitating the entrusting of some chores to others. Jordan Sudberg points out that delegation is one of the biggest challenges a company faces when trying to expand.
5) Management challenges
The expansion may mean the company must hire new managers with different opinions and thoughts from the previous managers. The business must learn to integrate both ideas to run its operations efficiently, which may lead to confusion between management and other employees.
6) Cultural conflicts
As the company expands, it will have to adapt to different cultures within its operations, which may lead to cultural clashes. The idea of expansion may lead to new ideas and innovations that will influence the organization. For example, if the business expands overseas or internationally, agreeing with the local laws and regulations significantly accommodates legal issues. Managers must ensure that any changes in decision-making covering new procedures or processes are justifiable.
7) Legislative challenges
If the business expands, it will have to apply to different agencies and regulators with new regulations that require an explanation of new policies. This situation can create significant challenges in ensuring the company is ready for all regulatory changes.
When a company expands, it is vital that a strategy is well planned and put into action. The economic, legislative, and cultural changes are significant challenges one must overcome to ensure the company’s success.


This research aims to examine whether social venture founder’s entrepreneurial passion can increase employee creativity via creative process engagement and the moderating role of employee mindfulness. A survey was conducted by asking employees of 109 social ventures in Vietnam to evaluate the founders’ entrepreneurial passion and the supervisors to evaluate employees’ creativity as well as employee creative process engagement. Drawing on the broaden-and-build theory, this study found that employee creativity increases when the employees perceive that the social venture founders have strong entrepreneurial passion as explain by higher creative process engagement. In addition, we revealed that the indirect influence of entrepreneurial passion on employee creativity remains significant regardless the employees’ mindfulness. Theoretical and practical contributions are further discussed.


The Affordable Care Act establishes a national pilot program to encourage hospitals, doctors, and other providers to work together to improve the coordination and quality of patient care. Under payment “bundling”, hospitals, doctors, and providers are paid a flat rate for an episode of care rather than the current fragmented system where each service or test or bundle of items or services are billed separately to Medicare.
For example, instead of a surgical procedure generating multiple claims from multiple providers, the entire team is compensated with a “bundled” payment that provides incentives to deliver health care services more efficiently while maintaining or improving quality of care. It aligns the incentives of those delivering care, and savings are shared between providers and the Medicare program. This will be effective no later than January 1, 2013.


One of the more remarkable developments in translingual literature over the past decade has been the rise of a new wave of Soviet-born authors writing in languages other than their native Russian. Autobiographical elements have always figured prominently in their fiction, and some of these authors have recently crossed the boundary into non-fiction by writing memoirs. The process of writing in a second language about becoming a writer in a second language gives these books a particular self-referential quality. This essay surveys the latest memoirs and auto-fiction (published 2012-14) of five Soviet-born immigrant novelists in the U.S. and Germany—Gary Shteyngart, Lena Gorelik, Lara Vapnyar, Olga Grjasnowa, and Maxim Shrayer. It argues that constructing a narrative of the self for a foreign audience serves as a crucial step in the gestation of a translingual novelist. This narrative urge often predates the actual mastery of the new language. Rather than as the result of an already-achieved acquisition of a new linguistic medium, telling one’s story in a non-native language emerges as a means toward language learning and integration.


Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects 5.5 million Americans and leads to progressive memory loss. Currently, there are few treatments to help prevent or slow this disease. Recently, the gut microbiota has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for AD, but little is known about which bacteria may be involved or how they contribute to AD. We think slowing the aging process in the microbiome could be used to help prevent or treat AD. We have found that colonizing mice with bacteria associated with AD can increase amyloid plaques. Our studies suggest this is because AD-associated bacteria block beneficial immune responses in the brain that help clear up amyloid beta plaques. Furthermore, we have found beneficial bacteria that can secrete substances that reverse this, and can increase the destruction of amyloid plaques. With additional studies, we are aiming to identify these bacterial substances that then could be used to activate the immune system in AD and prevent disease.


[SOLVED] Submit a 4-page analysis (excluding cover page and References section) of the ethical situation.
Help me study for my Management class. Im stuck and dont understand.
Consider the following two scenarios:
Scenario 1
James works in the accounting department of a large firm.While going over the books for the past several months, James notices that someone has altered the figures to increase earnings by several thousands of dollars. He suspects that the errors, which are in the companys favor, are too consistent to have been honest mistakes. He knows that he should report his findings through the companys ethics hotline. However, he worries that doing so will jeopardize his job security and reputation with the company.
Scenario 2
Mary owns a small toy manufacturing company. One of her employees has noticed that one of the pieces on the most popular toy the company manufactures can detach from the toy. This detachment could pose a potential choking hazard to young children who play with the toy. No customers have yet reported problems with the toy. Mary wonders if she should report the potential hazard before anyone gets hurt. However, the recall would cost her company money and result in loss of sales during the busy Christmas season.
As the scenarios illustrate, making ethical decisions often requires a trade-off for an organization or individual. After a scandal results from ethical wrongdoing, the proper course of action seems clear. Even so, employees and organizational leaders continue to struggle with making ethical decisions on a day-to-day basis as they weigh the cost of making such decisions.
To prepare for this Assignment, think of a situation where a leadership team encountered a situation where things did not go well and they were faced with an ethical dilemma. Analyze what could have happened had they applied the appropriate decisions. Offer your solutions using an ethical framework. Submit a 4-page analysis (excluding cover page and References section) of the ethical situation. Your analysis must include the following: A brief (1 paragraph) explanation of the ethical dilemma An explanation of the ethical framework that, if applied by the organization to make its decision, would have resolved the ethical dilemma, including support for your analysis from scholarly research An examination of both the positive and negative consequences of the decision, including the trade-offs that the leadership of the organization made in making their decision Please Note: For each page of your paper, you must include a minimum of two APA-formatted scholarly citations.


SPANISH WRITING: WHAT DO RATERS LOOK FOR?
As students as 'writers' move across the globe to courses in higher education, the area faces challenges regarding academic writing across cultures. In a 1988 international comparative study edited by Gorman, Purves & Degenhart it was found that student writing across educational systems had in common what constituted a written product by its surface features. However, beyond that each nation varied in the perception of what was valued. The CEFR very much challenges this notion bringing common standards across writing in multiple languages and cultures. On this point the current study investigates Spanish rater perceptions of what is valued in educated Spanish writing on two tasks: a report and an argument. The words raters focus on while using the scales (Eckes 2004), as well as the choice of band-scale wording for scale development will be presented. The grid will be compared to an English one for the same pair of tasks. Furthermore, the rating grids for academic Spanish will be compared to the CEFR C1 / C2 Spanish versions. The data will illuminate what raters consider to be valuable for judging written Spanish and how this concurs with the CEFR higher levels.


Publications
Olof Olsson P, Gustafsson R, Salnikov AV, Göthe M, Zeller KS, Friman T, Baldetorp B, Koopman LA, Weinreb PH, Violette SM, Kalamajski S, Heldin NE, Rubin K
Cell Commun. Signal
16 (1) 36[2018-07-02; online 2018-07-02]
Chemotherapeutic efficacy can be improved by targeting the structure and function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the carcinomal stroma. This can be accomplished by e.g. inhibiting TGF-β1 and -β3 or treating with Imatinib, which results in scarcer collagen fibril structure in xenografted human KAT-4/HT29 (KAT-4) colon adenocarcinoma. The potential role of α Vβ6 integrin-mediated activation of latent TGF-β was studied in cultured KAT-4 and Capan-2 human ductal pancreatic carcinoma cells as well as in xenograft carcinoma generated by these cells. The monoclonal αVβ6 integrin-specific monoclonal antibody 3G9 was used to inhibit the αVβ6 integrin activity. Both KAT-4 and Capan-2 cells expressed the α Vβ6 integrin but only KAT-4 cells could utilize this integrin to activate latent TGF-β in vitro. Only when Capan-2 cells were co-cultured with human F99 fibroblasts was the integrin activation mechanism triggered, suggesting a more complex, fibroblast-dependent, activation pathway. In nude mice, a 10-day treatment with 3G9 reduced collagen fibril thickness and interstitial fluid pressure in KAT-4 but not in the more desmoplastic Capan-2 tumors that, to achieve a similar effect, required a prolonged 3G9 treatment. In contrast, a 10-day direct inhibition of TGF-β1 and -β3 reduced collagen fibril thickness in both tumor models. Our data demonstrate that the α Vβ6-directed activation of latent TGF-β plays a pivotal role in modulating the stromal collagen network in carcinoma, but that the sensitivity to αVβ6 inhibition depends on the simultaneous presence of alternative paths for latent TGF-β activation and the extent of desmoplasia.
PubMed 29966518
DOI 10.1186/s12964-018-0249-7
Crossref 10.1186/s12964-018-0249-7
pii: 10.1186/s12964-018-0249-7
pmc: PMC6027735


The functional capabilities of dopamine neuron-rich grafts implanted into the accumbens and striatal regions in neonatal rats were evaluated in a series of behavioural tests. The ascending mesotelencephalic dopaminergic system of three-day-old rat pups was bilaterally lesioned by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine at the level of the lateral hypothalamus. Five days later a suspension containing dopaminergic neurons obtained from embryonic day 14 mesencephali was injected bilaterally into the striatal complex. The functional effects of such grafts were evaluated using behavioural tests for which it was known that the performance of the animals is changed following the lesion of the mesotelencephalic pathway and for which the influence of dopaminergic grafts implanted into adult hosts have previously been described. The dopamine-rich grafts compensated for the modifications of the locomotor responsiveness to amphetamine and apomorphine induced by neonatal dopamine depletion. However, the grafts were unable to restore more complex behaviours such as hoarding for food pellets, schedule-induced polydipsia and learning behaviours. Moreover, the neonatal transplants induced additional deficits such as catalepsia, nocturnal hyperactivity and day-time hyperactivity during food deprivation. It was concluded that, at least in the present paradigm, the implantation into neonatal brain does not lead to any greater functional recovery than that observed after implantation during adulthood.


HIV-associated dementia (HAD) is a multi-factorial disease set in motion by the presence of HIV-infected cells in the brain. A characteristic feature of HAD is the infiltration of mononuclear phagocytes into the brain, which is aided by HIV-1 Tat protein and other chemokines secreted by both HIV-infected cells and uninfected cells in their vicinity. Both direct and indirect chemokine activity of HIV-1 Tat protein has been demonstrated employing purified recombinant Tat protein. However, a corroboration of a key role for Tat or other chemokines in monocyte migration, in the context of HIV-infection, has not yet been demonstrated. Here we describe methods, to measure the role of soluble factors, such as chemokines and Tat, released by HIV-infected cells or uninfected cells in their vicinity, in monocyte migration in vitro.


Sterilisation Pharmaceutical Sterilisation
In the pharmaceutical industry, a sterile environment is crucial and therefore, particular emphasis is placed on the air quality to ensure quality operations. Compressed air must be free of contaminants. The presence of these contaminants is likely to disrupt productivity and must be monitored.
Unlike IR Sensors, Our Systems are Unaffected by Moisture
Water vapour in compressed air interferes heavily with all infrared technologies. However, our gas monitors are unaffected by moisture which allow us to continuously monitor contaminents in compressed air.
Our Solution – Continuous Sampling Systems
A continuous monitor is required to serve as an early warning for leaks and monitor exposure levels within laboratories.
We also have experience of installing systems for the monitoring of methylene chloride, also known as dichloromethane. It has widespread use in pharmaceutical sterilisation.
Endoscopic Sterilisation
In endoscopic units, hospital technicians sterilise equipment and instruments multiple times per day.
Technicians are exposed to sterilant gases. Repeated handling of sterilants intensifies the potential for overexposure to dangerous concentration of chemicals.
Overexposure to Peracetic Acid (PAA) can cause lasting and serious health issues, including pulmonary edema, permanent lung damage, skin burns, and more.
Our Solution – Fixed Sensors
Wall mounted sensors continuously record levels of sterilant gases such as Peracetic Acid or Hydrogen Peroxide.
Using a calibrated sensor exchange program, sensors are reliable and perform to the max.
Talk with the Experts Contact us - Our application specialists will identify the best gas detection equipment for your needs based on the information that you can provide. If you're unsure about what's important, consider booking a site survey. Book a site survey - Our specialists consider your process, your site conditions and work with you to understand your needs. It is the most effective means of ensuring your system is completely fit for purpose.


Are you or a loved one sick from Camp Lejeune toxic water? The Camp Lejeune Justice Acts entitles anyone who lived or served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1953-1987 to bring a new claim for significant financial compensation regardless of prior claims or existing benefits.
If you lived, worked, or spent time at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 and have been diagnosed with any of these medical conditions, you may be entitled to compensation:
These settlement amounts are based on other cancer tort settlements. No Camp Lejeune settlements have been made yet.
Veterans from Camp Lejeune and any victims who fell ill at Camp Lejeune due to contaminated water can now hold the US government responsible. After the Justice for Camp Lejeune Act was signed into law on August 10, 2022, anyone who contracted water poisoning at Camp Lejeune now has a legitimate legal route to compensation and accountability.
You might be entitled to compensation if you or someone you know consumed Camp LeJeune water while stationed there. During a free consultation, the lawyers can discuss your situation and eligibility.
Veterans who served for 30 consecutive days between 1953 and 1987 and who did not receive an honorable discharge will be eligible for Priority Group 6 and access to VA healthcare. Veterans from Camp Lejeune can apply for disability benefits and financial assistance with out-of-pocket medical expenses. Veterans alone are eligible for disability compensation, and veterans' families may also be eligible for health care benefits.
Parkinson's disease and seven different presumptive cancers are covered by disability compensation. Health care and compensation are among these benefits. The VA may reimburse the veteran or family member for out-of-pocket medical expenses for 15 presumed illnesses, but health benefits do not include compensation payments.
The VA offers health care support to Veterans and their families who resided on Camp Lejeune under The Camp Lejeune Act of 2012. However, the veterans and family members must meet the standards for service dates, time spent on station, and one of the illnesses on the VA's list.
Family members of Veterans who lived or served at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and were possibly exposed to drinking water contaminated with benzene, industrial solvents, and other chemicals are eligible for the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program (CLFMP).
The Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) treat Veterans who served at Camp Lejeune while they were on active duty and compensate qualified Camp Lejeune family members for medical expenses incurred in connection with one or more of the 15 listed illnesses or medical conditions.
For family members of soldiers who lived at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, including unborn children, VA reimburses out-of-pocket medical expenses. Family members must have developed one of the 15 qualifying health conditions while living at Camp Lejeune for a minimum of 30 days cumulatively within the time period to qualify for medical expense reimbursement.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 enables veterans and/or their family members to first submit an administrative claim for remedy and, if that claim is rejected, then submit a lawsuit. Anyone who feels they qualify may submit a claim to the Norfolk, Virginia-based Tort Claims Unit (TCU), which is part of the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy. Complete the CLJA claims form and email it to the Tort Claims Unit (TCU) of the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy at CLclaims@us.navy.mil or submit the form through the U.S. mail.
Any veteran with a condition they believe is brought on by their military service in accordance with Camp Lejeune is encouraged to apply for VA disability payments by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). In compliance with applicable law, VBA will help gather medical evidence and may ask for an examination.
Additionally, if a claim has been previously denied under the Federal Tort Claims Act must refile their claim for reconsideration under the new Act. If the claim is still denied after that, veterans have the choice to bring a lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
The government will take into account a number of variables when determining settlement offers to make to Camp Lejeune water pollution litigants, including:
Plaintiffs in CLJA proceedings will be eligible for the same types of damages as plaintiffs in traditional civil cases. These consist of financial losses, medical costs, and pain and suffering damages.
When calculating damages, it is important to include an amount for every injury in connection with the water contamination. It is more important to include all figures in damages calculations or settlement demand because the military puts a cap on awards. As an example, if someone had a demand of $2 million that was rejected and the case proceeded to trial where the jury awarded $15 million, the award would be reduced back to $ 2 million.
Veterans who were at Camp Lejeune and were later diagnosed with one of seven diseases received disability compensation before the CLJA was passed. Based on available scientific data, it was assumed that these 7 diseases were related in some way to the tainted Lejeune water. These were the 7 presumptive Camp Lejeune illnesses:
Not just these cases are eligible for an early settlement. The research has advanced to cover a wide range of other injuries caused by the toxic water at Camp Lejeune. However, if a Lejeune victim has one of these illnesses and files a contaminated drinking water claim under the CLJA, they most likely won't need to provide causation evidence. This makes an early settlement easier. Ideally, before a case is brought up when the new law's administrative period is in effect.
The Camp Lejeune Act has a 2-year "statute of limitations" that must be met before a claim can be made, or it would be permanently banned. On August 10, 2022, the day the act was signed into law, the two-year period started to run.
Any claims made after August 10, 2024, will not be honored. Time is of the essence, so if you believe you may be entitled to compensation, you should speak with a lawyer right now. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows for the filing of civil lawsuits on behalf of military personnel or their families, but the claimant is still required to establish a medical connection between their exposure to Camp Lejeune water and the sickness they experienced.


In the city of San Luis Obispo, interrogatories come into play during the discovery process of a lawsuit. Once the lawsuit is filed and the defendant has had a chance to answer the complaint, both sides participate in the discovery process. This is when both sides request and provide information. An interrogatory is a set of written questions or a request for information from one part to the other.
Most legal documents need to be filed with the court during a personal injury lawsuit. This is not true of interrogatories. These documents are exchanged directly between the parties involved in the case, but there is a limit. If a party reaches the limit of interrogatories sent, they may petition the court seeking permission to send more.
There is a federal rule that the party receiving the interrogatory must respond within 30 days, and most states follow the same rule. The person answering the interrogatory must do so and then sign it in front of a notary public. Even though interrogatories are questions, they are not written in typical question form. Instead, they are worded in such a way to invite a lengthier answer. The recipient of an interrogatory may object to it for certain reasons.
Any person who has been injured due to the negligence of another should consult with a personal injury attorney for assistance. Legal proceedings and forms are exact processes and require experience for the most positive and beneficial outcome.